A Daily Devotional with Pastor Doug Crouse  January 16, 2018  

His Promise of Peace   Scripture Reading – Philippians 4:6 - 7 (NLT)

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”  

Let’s be honest, there are times, even seasons and situations in all of our lives that would cause us to be tempted to respond with worry. I must confess it is these little or should I say big words that so often catch my attention and inspire faith in my heart as I endeavor to live in the fullness of God’s promise for my life.  

For if God’s Word was instructing me not to worry about most things and choose as well to pray about most things I think to be honest with you I would get an A, perhaps even an At. But it is this little or big word I see in regard to worry in the text - that really gets my attention and requires me to walk in believing faith…. ‘anything’, as it is the other word in regards to prayer… ‘everything’!

So then you and I as the children have a choice to make. That we would not worry about ANYHING, and pray about EVERYTHING! And as we are telling the Father what we need (for He already knows) He expects us to give thanks for all that He has done. I’m pretty sure that none of us (except our loving Father in heaven) knows exactly how many heart beats we have had in the last 24 hours of this New Year. That is a good place to start with thanksgiving, for the precious gift of living and loving in Christ Jesus our Lord!

When we choose to bring ANYTHING and EVERYTHING to the Father in this way we will receive, ‘His Promise of Peace’, which will be beyond anything that we humanly can even begin to fully understand. But we know that His peace will guard both our heart and our mind as we press into the fullness of life that God has planned and purposed for us through Jesus Christ our Lord!

May we experience and express in our lives the fullness of His peace that only comes through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.  

Prayer Father, forgive me I pray when I have chosen to worry rather than to pray about anything and everything. I give these situations to You right now in Jesus name, and receive Your peace in my heart and mind. Make me an instrument of Your peace towards others I ask in Jesus precious name.  

Memory Verse:  Luke 11:1 NLT “_____, ______ us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1b